This is nauseatingly mundane of you.

What? You mean scrubbing the floors? It's called working, Sombra, maybe you've heard of it.

Hm, and perhaps you would succeed with getting this pointless chore over with sooner, should you cease straying your eyes over to the Princess every minute.

Ignoring that sneer, my eyes did glance over from washing the floorboards squeakily-clean towards the oblivious purple alicorn, who was humming merrily while, as always, pulling out some books she intended on reading for the day. And my scrubbing promptly halted temporarily, watching those sparkling eyes light up at a particular book she chose was mesmerizing, a light adorable smile on her features that caused me to mirror the expression.

How I got so lucky was beyond me...

Beyond us all.

Heh. At least I actually have someone to care for other than myself, your 'Grace.'

Twilight then cheerfully turned around, the books lifted via magic- Uh oh! Said magic dissipated, books falling be default as Twilight let out a surprised noise, my own handiwork on the floor causing the mare to slip straight forward across the room, into my waiting arms. I dropped the scrub in time to catch the alicorn, relieved she was alright, and heart accelerating at our sudden close proximity.

To her credit, a red hue appeared on Twilight as well at our sudden position, but a brief glance at the floorboards turned that shy embarrassment to annoyed embarrassment. Oh boy. "Jack, I told you, you're not suppose to make the floor too wet. Now it'll leak through the floor downstairs!"

Whoops.

"I couldn't help it!" I retorted in defense, voice then lowering upon adding while glancing away in my own foolish nervousness. "Not my fault you're so distracting to look at..."

I winced at the quiet stunned look from the corner of my eye.

You're an idiot.

Well, you're-

My inward retort to the King was cut off by the abrupt lips contacting my own, and my mouth eagerly accepted and returned the kiss without hesitation. One hoof reached up to brush Twilight's mane fondly, my mind clouded, Sombra's mutters drowned out at the alicorn's ability to turn me into a dumb high schooler all over again.

But ya know what? I ain't complaining.

To my slight disappointment, however, the kiss was over before it should've, Twilight's limbs wrapped around my neck, a pleased smile matching her reddened yet gleeful features. And I grinned rather stupidly, "If that's my punishment for messing up a chore, I should get in trouble more often."

Twilight shook her head, "Let's not make a habit of it. You messing up, I mean," She added hastily, and I couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to embrace the mare intimately again-

"Um... Should I be here?"

...Probably not, Spike.

Our eyes blinked at the unwelcome interruption, turning towards the nervous Spike, who looked apologetic before gesturing with a thumb behind him. "Bro, you've got a visitor."

"...Okay?" I questioned, inwardly protesting upon Twilight now giving me space. "And he or she couldn't find their way up?"

Spike fidgeted slightly, already turning back downstairs. "You might wanna see her for yourself."

Oh? With a brief exchanged glance alongside Twilight, we followed the dragon curiously. Were we visited by someone completely unexpected? Royalty perhaps? Had Celestia come to discuss the growing threat of Tirek, as Twilight had informed her a while back? Luna maybe? Or perhaps Shining or Cadence, wishing to discuss more about the upcoming Equestrian Games and my involvement with it?

At our arrival near the front door, Spike waited with his claw on the handle, looking hesitant before opening the red door by our nods. Who could it be-?

...Ah.

Twilight gasped in genuine surprise, while I blinked at the appearance of the blue unicorn wearing the large purple magician's hat. Then, said hat lifted upwards to reveal the boastful equine's smug expression.

"Hello Stardust. Princess."

"Well," I casually stated, albeit baffling. "Things just got more interesting..."